Southern California -- this just in

Sheriff: The Game's Twitter 'flash-mob' a caution for celebs

August 15, 2011 | 11:35
am

L.A. County Sheriff's Department officials said they hope other celebrities with a large Twitter following learn from the case of rapper The Game, whose Twitter account sent a message that generated hundreds of phone calls Friday to the sheriff's station in Compton.

Officials vow to bring a criminal case to the L.A. County District Attorney's office over the so-called phone flash-mob.

"This is an unusual case and therefore an unusual investigation. Our primary concern is public safety for this incident as well as for the future," said Sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker on Monday.

"The message for the public and in particular celebrities and other notable persons who have a large following is that this is a public safety issue and to tweet wisely to their many followers," he added. "It's important that they respect the safety of those who do not have such a big voice but who want to call us when they need help."

A message posted on The Game's Twitter account last week encouraged his 580,000 followers to telephone if they wanted an internship. The Tweet gave no indication that the phone number was the Compton station's official help line.

Deputies have yet to make contact with the rapper, who Parker said "would be very well inclined to call us."

"We're still waiting for a Twitter message with an apology or a retraction or 'this was a bad idea,' " Parker said. "We're waiting for something that sends a message out that people's lives are more important than playing around."

But the rapper, whose real name is Jayceon Terrell Taylor, seemed less than apologetic.

He retweeted a Times article about the prank, and then blamed the stunt on a friend, warning the alleged culprit: "you betta sleep wit jeans on tonite homie. … Sheriffs come knockin' don't be in ya pajamas."